Saturday, December 2, 2017

If my Polar Bear Post Card Project was about optimism for something good -- the now more than ever critical plea for President Obama to have protected ANWR from oil exploration -- then the point of these Bear Witness strips is definitely to shed further light on things that are not.

Sometimes my opinions might be one side of a perfectly healthy debate or a varied take on political opinion, but in certain other cases flat out WRONG things are happening -- and we need to hold voters and (even more so) self-interested politicians accountable.

I've set up a separate website for these comics, so feel free share this as much as you'd like or to check in whenever at www.bearwitnesscomics.com, but even though I'm primarily a children's book illustrator I also plan to post them over on my illustration site.

Surely the political bent here is a little beyond the average primary or secondary elementary school student, but my intention here if nothing else is to use my art to express an opinion and to stand up for things that I believe in. Even those of you with differing political options have to appreciate and respect the value of that discourse in our society.

We can do better. We need to do better. Back room political deals and partisan tax reform packages that affect the ENTIRE country but only benefit the few? I don't care if that the way that things are done. That is not the way to do this. GRRR!

A new series of comics for me - and this time with an intentionally political bent. It's not much really, but in some fashion similar to the Polar Bear Post Card Project, these Bear Witness strips will be a way for me to process the news of the day and to participate in the conversation.

And hopefully, somewhere in these words and pictures will be a reminder to think -- to have a respect for our fellow citizens (and bears even!) - and to take things like science, and common sense, and decency into account before making crucial decisions that effect our communities, country, and world.

Full disclosure: If you were paying attention, my first three versions of this were under the Bear in Mind comics title. After a quick survey of a small but convincing audience, I quickly switched to Bear Witness as something a little more powerful and potentially (as intended) political -- as in to certify, attest - provide evidence for the truth of something; or to declare - to state emphatically and authoritatively.

About Me

Erik Brooks is the author and illustrator of many great books including the 2011 Washington State Book Award winner, Polar Opposites, and IRA/CBC Children's Choices selection, The Practically Perfect Pajamas. For school visit and other inquires, contact Erik at: 509.996.4345 or www.erikbrooks.com